Thanks to the pitch count rule, Medford freshman pitcher Willie Von Ruden did not get the opportunity to no-hit the Faribault Bethlehem Academy Cardinals on Tuesday night at Bell Field.

The Tigers scored six runs in the seventh to defeat the Cardinals 14-3 and Von Ruden had to be pulled in the bottom of the seventh after reaching 104 pitches with nobody out.

He entered the seventh with 98 pitches; 105 pitches is the limit with the new pitch count rule implemented this season.

Medford head coach Jon Chappuis told KDHL he thought about not putting Von Ruden on the mound to start the seventh because it was such a long top of the inning but added he had to give him "a shot" at a no-hitter.

Von Ruden struck out nine and walked five.

Luke Donkers took the loss for Bethlehem Academy after going the first 5-2/3 innings and giving up 14 of the Tigers' 18 hits in the game.

Von Ruden's older brother, Javis, was the catcher in the game and had four hits and four RBI. Willie collected two hits and senior designated hitter Ben Borash had three hits.

Bethlehem Academy goes to United South Central on Thursday and Mankato Loyola on Saturday.

Medford hosts New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva on Thursday and entertains New LIfe Academy and Class 4A Spring Lake Park on Saturday.

Cardinal Pitcher Luke Donkers Delivers Pitch to Medford- photo by Gordy Kosfeld
Cardinal Pitcher Luke Donkers Delivers Pitch to Medford- photo by Gordy Kosfeld
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